----------------------------------------Casio 12.1 megapixel EX-ZR100, the new flagship model for the company’s popular EXILIM® family of digital cameras. Blazingly fast, the EX-ZR100 is powered by Casio’s new EXILIM ENGINE HS with dual core processors, which work together to offer consumers a high-speed shooting experience unlike any other. From high-speed image processing to slow-motion video recording, the next generation EXILIM EX-ZR100 represents a dramatic advancement beyond today’s traditional digital cameras. Also joining the EX-ZR100 is the EX-ZR10. Announced at the 2010 Photokina Expo, the EX-ZR10 is the younger sibling of the more advanced EX-ZR100, and will begin shipping in January 2011.

“Casio is continuously pushing the envelope for what’s possible when it comes to digital cameras, and nothing embodies that approach more than the new EX-ZR100,” said Toshi Iguchi, Senior General Manager, Digital Imaging Division, Casio America Inc. “The EX-ZR100 combines our most advanced imaging technologies and is indicative of the level of innovation that consumers can expect from Casio. This is a camera that we’re proud to call our flagship model for 2011.”

High-Speed Processing Power

The EX-ZR100 incorporates a 12.1 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor which will help users capture high-resolution, low-noise images even in dimly lit environments. The camera also features sensor-shift image stabilization to help reduce the blur associated with hand movement for even better results. The sensor-shift stabilization technology also allows users to capture impressive 1920x1080p full-HD video at 30 frames-per-second (fps) with continuous auto focus. In addition, the EX-ZR100 features a built-in stereo microphone, and even offers users the ability leverage the camera’s full optical zoom and capture digital still images with high-speed burst shooting (10 megapixel), all while recording video.

The camera’s high-performance CMOS sensor is complimented even further by Casio’s advanced EXILIM ENGINE HS with dual core processors, which further enhance the digital imaging experience for consumers. Together, the EXILIM ENGINE HS with dual core processors drive the high-speed capabilities of the EX-ZR100 and are responsible for the camera’s industry leading, .37 second shot-to-shot time, slow-motion video recording as well as high-speed burst shooting. With burst shooting, consumers can capture 30, 10 megapixel images at a maximum speed of 40 shots per second. Adding even more versatility, the EX-ZR100’s Pre‑record Continuous Shutter will begin pre-recording images when the shutter button is pressed halfway, ensuring users will not miss a single critical moment even if they’re a little late in snapping the photo. All photos and video can be reviewed on the camera’s high-resolution three-inch LCD (460k).

Getting Creative

The new EX-ZR100 encompasses a number of unique shooting modes, such as slow-motion video recording, Slide Panorama, and Casio’s HDR-ART technology, which consumers can use to build on their creativity and better express themselves through images. With slow-motion, users can record fast-action events at a maximum speed of 1,000fps (224x64), revealing detail that’s simply too fast for the naked eye to see. Additional high-speed frame rates include 480fps (224x160) and 240fps (432x320).

With Casio’s HDR technology, each press of the shutter button actually takes several shots with different exposures and instantly combines them into a single image with a high dynamic range. This ensures that both light and dark areas are clearly visible in the photograph and that washed out or overly dark areas are minimized. The HDR-ART function uses this HDR technology to create beautifully artistic photographs. It locally controls the contrast and the level of color saturation of the analyzed subject, and achieves the kind of awe-inspiring effects that used to be possible only using dedicated software, all with just one press of the shutter button. The effects of the HDR-ART function can be set at three different processing levels, so now anyone can easily create dramatic, eye-catching HDR images that suit their artistic tastes and are sure to impress.

Users can also get creative with Slide Panorama, which will give them the ability to pan the EX‑ZR100 across a scene, such as an expansive landscape, to capture 360-degree images. Unique about Casio’s Slide Panorama is the fact that the function can detect moving subjects or peoples' faces and will not use these subjects for the combined points. This makes it easy to take more natural panoramic images. The EX-ZR100 also makes using the camera fun thanks to its Dynamic Photo function. With Dynamic Photo, users can combine moving characters preloaded to the camera’s memory, with a still image or movie background of their choice.

Optics That Pack a Punch

Casio’s new flagship EXILIM model doesn’t fail to impress thanks to a robust lens that boasts a powerful 12.5x optical zoom and a focal length of 24mm-300mm (35mm film equivalent). Packed within a compact body that measures under an inch thick (0.95-inches), the ultra‑wide‑angle and telephoto capabilities of the EX-ZR100’s lens will allow users to fit more into the frame or get in close, no matter how near or far they may be. Furthermore, Casio greatly enhances the 12.5x optical zoom of the EX-ZR100 with its Multi Frame SR Zoom technology, which doubles the camera’s zoom to achieve a zoom that’s equivalent to a 25x optical zoom. Far more advanced than traditional digital zooms found on today’s digital cameras, Multi Frame SR Zoom leverages the high-speed processing power of the EXILIM ENGINE HS to capture and combine several images at once to produce a final photo with no loss of image quality.

The Casio EX-ZR10 is available in black and will ship in January 2011 for $249.99

The Casio EX-ZR100 will be available in black and will ship in March 2011 for $299.99

When using Panasonic Pro High Speed 1GB SD Memory Card.
Range is affected by optical zoom.
May differ according to camera settings.
ND filter is being used.
SOS: Standard Output Sensitivity
HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
1080/50i output is not supported for PAL output using an HDMI™.

I think this Casio ZR100 may have the potential to be a Panny "TZ/ZS killer" even more so than the travel zoom offerings from Fuji/Canon/Sony.

From my adventures across the net looking at various pics from all the new flagship travel zooms (those that are out already anyway)... the image quality of the ZR100 is right up there with the best of them and Casio doesn't seem to be quite as aggressive with smearing out details like some others are.

The Casio looks like it's priced right under that magic $300 mark as well whereas the top end models from Canon, Fuji, Panasonic and Sony are well above that.

It's an interesting year in travel zooms because it appears to be a much more wide open market, no longer dominated by only Panasonic.

There's probably a half dozen alternatives now that you could argue are at least as good and probably better when you look at overall factors like price/video/high speed/image quality etc.

I'm also waiting to see what the Samsung WB700 will be like with its good looking specs but it's a CCD design so in a way I don't think it's really competing fully with the rest of the high speed CMOS travelzoom crowd.

It taking on the ZS8/TZ18 with its CCD sensor and looking at the specs I'd say the Samsung should be able to compete well... if they can release it before next January.

2011 the year Nippon awoke Godzilla

Last Millennium Nippon (Japan) was for me the land of robots, monsters like Godzilla and made in Japan what replaced the quality seal made in Germany.

Who would have ever imagined the there came a day when Nippon would awake Godzilla for real.

If you might recall, one of Godzilla´s attributes was his Atomic Breath what now covers parts of this planet.

When in 2010 the Gulf Oil disaster happened I tried to figure out if it could impact Europe directly. So I started a blog to collect my findings. You still can find that blog in my HX5 blog link list if you care.

With Fukushima not well covered in the mainstream and a measurable fallout already on my islands I like to share with you important facts what will in the long run impact your life.

Be aware that there are people around who think the story of Radioactive Man is real and that radiation can be good for you, there is also the counter part who thinks we are all doomed and embellish the other way. As usual the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Also I have to tell you how proud I am to be in the European Union who takes so good care of their members like instantly rising, when Japan asked, the allowed radioactive dosis for food substantially and the German speaking states censor now The Simpsons when they try to raise awareness make fun how negligent people are around nuclear power.

People over Japan and also the USA measuring and reporting actual radiation data via safecast.org.

Over 35 years old still up to date:
KRAFTWERK - RADIO-ACTIVITYchange Hiroshima to Fukushima

On a personal note, you know the most bleeped out word on American television is fuck as South Park so nicely demonstrated with the Human CentiPad episode. It is used if something is not right. In Germany scheisse (shit) has the same function. For me FUK (from FUKushima) is starting to replace the old swear words for something that is terrible wrong but I can not do anything about it.

2012-03-11
Fukushima is constantly poisoning Japan and the rest of the whole planet now for over one year in the name of profit and total moronic ignorance and incompetence.